By ALESHA CADET
Tribune Features Reporter
acadet@tribunemedia.net
THREE YEARS ago, Bahamian student Keith Anthony Bethell travelled to Oklahoma City in the pursuit of an education. He made his way through Oklahoma City University securing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion with honours. He enjoyed every moment, and now, Keith is about to reap his reward.
Having graduated along with the 300 others in the Class of 2013, Keith is continuing to pursue a career in religious ministry. He led his commencement ceremony in the invocation.
Celebrating this event with him were his parents, Rev Dr Godfrey A Bethell, Minister of Ebenezer Methodist Church, and Deacon Elmena A Bethell, General Secretary to the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, and Pastor of Coke Memorial Methodist Church on Bernard Road along with other siblings, relatives and friends.
In an interview with Tribune Religion, Keith said: “I really felt called by God to go into youth ministry and the religious field in general when I started working at numerous churches in Nassau as a musician for youth choirs and youth worship teams. I found that I did more than just help them sing, but help them navigate life. I found that very rewarding and one day answered the call on my life.”
He said his experience at Oklahoma City University was rewarding, and he believes the university is really a hidden gem in religious studies.
“We go in depth in academia so that we are fully prepared to teach the Bible in truth and in love for the betterment of the church. We didn’t just sit in the classroom, though. Almost every class I took had a practical element or an element where we have to go and serve the community,” said Keith.
He said he decided to attend Oklahoma City University and enrol in that particular religious programme because it challenged him to look outside of one single perspective and theology.
“I think every student will agree that scholarships play a major role, and I was blessed enough to have my tuition paid,” he said.
Keith was presented with awards such as the Theta Alpha Kappa Award, Men’s Leadership Award, Religious Education Award, Youth Ministry Award and Certificate of Excellence in Youth Ministry Award.
From this point on, Keith is trying to get his feet wet in the United States. He said the market for youth pastors in the Bahamas is not very ripe. However, he said he does feel a call to travel back home.
“I think there is a major shortage in trained, theologically sound, youth pastors. I think there are a lot of people doing great things, but I think there’s a lot to be done with deepening the faith of our students and helping them connect their faith to what is going on in society; to not just preach the love of God, but to also show people the love of God through acts of service and relationship building, among other things,” said Keith.
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